Citroën DS3 WRC is Ready to Rally

Citroën is hoping its new DS3 WRC rally car will bring the French automaker additional glory, including its seventh Manufacturer's World Title, during the 2011 World Rally Championship. The DS3 WRC is the third vehicle used by Citroën during its ten year stint competing at the highest level of rallying. Previous models, the Xsara and C4, each racked up three championships apiece before their retirement.

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Leading Citroën's championship charge will be seven-time WRC champion, Sébastien Loeb and his navigator Daniel Elena. New to official works team status is Sébastien Ogier, who impressed last year with two victories. Three more Citroën DS3 WRCs will be driven by privateer teams. Drivers for the non-works teams include 2003 WRC champion Petter Solberg, Dutch rally driver Peter van Merksteijn, and 2007 Formula One Champion Kimi Raikkonen.

Based on the subcompact DS3 hatchback, the rally version is powered by a turbocharged direct injection 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine that produces approximately 300-bhp. The engine is coupled with four-wheel-drive and a sequential gearbox. While the street version of the DS3 competes with cars like the Mini Cooper and Audi A1, the biggest challenge facing the DS3 WRC is likely to come from the Ford Focus RS WRC piloted by Finnish driver Miko Hirvonen.